As you look ahead to buying a flagship phone in 2025, excitement might come from the thought of top-notch cameras, unparalleled performance, and impressive battery life. But wait—what if I told you there’s an intriguing feature that lets you relive your childhood gaming days? Enter the Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, which doubles as a handheld retro console!
A Phone That Turns Its Back Into a Game Console
The Xiaomi 17 Pro models feature a secondary display on the camera island, extending the width of the phone. This handy screen allows you to check incoming calls and serves as a viewfinder for selfies. However, when equipped with the Retro Handheld Console Case, this compact display transforms into a Game Boy-like console, complete with preloaded classics such as Angry Birds 2 and a Space Invaders-style game.
Interested in this quirky accessory? The Retro Handheld Console Case is priced at approximately €40 ($41) and includes four face buttons, a D-pad, and essential buttons such as Start and Select. It operates on a 200mAh battery, promising up to 40 days of use based on a three-hour daily session. Unfortunately, you’ll need to recharge it separately using pins at the top, as it doesn’t support wireless charging through the phone itself.
The Gaming Experience on Xiaomi 17 Pro’s Retro Case
Once you attach the console case and power it on, your phone enters gaming mode. Navigate a carousel of games, complete with tutorials on how to use the controls. Now, while it may seem like a neat gimmick, I wonder about the actual gaming experience. The sizable camera island occupies significant screen real estate, which might lead to a cramped gaming session.
With only about two-thirds of the display available for gameplay, the experience may feel a bit confined. Plus, there’s a lingering concern about whether Xiaomi will expand the game library after the initial launch. It seems best utilized for casual gaming while waiting in line or seeking a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Beyond the Case, the Xiaomi 17 Pro is a Serious Flagship
Delving deeper into the phone’s capabilities, both the Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are powered by Qualcomm’s cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, paired with up to 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a whopping 1 TB of UFS 4.1 storage.
The device flaunts a stunning 1.5k 12-bit LTPO OLED display, complemented by a Leica Summilux triple camera setup, featuring a 50 MP main camera, a 50 MP 5x telephoto lens, and a 50 MP ultrawide camera. Additionally, there’s a 50 MP selfie camera for flawless shots. The 17 Pro also houses a robust 6300mAh battery, while the Pro Max boasts an impressive 7500mAh battery.
While the design may evoke the iPhone 17 Pro series, this is a calculated move by Xiaomi. Unlike Apple, Xiaomi utilizes the large camera island effectively, highlighted by the secondary screen dubbed the Magic Back Display.
Because Nothing Says Flagship Like a Game Boy on Your Camera Bump
The Xiaomi 17 Pro starts at around €700 ($700), and the Pro Max begins at approximately €840 ($840). These models have been launched in China, with international availability yet to be announced. Once they reach other markets, let’s hope the Retro Gaming Case comes along for the ride.
Is it brilliant or just plain strange? Either way, Xiaomi’s innovative approach stands out, especially as competitors like Oppo and Vivo focus solely on enhancing photography capabilities. Xiaomi seems to be targeting gamers and nostalgic enthusiasts alike.
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